Hopefully the current fashion among young women of sounding like chipmunks won’t last much longer.

*****

Recorded Reading (1:34): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sj7q5fk6v23faz7xcx0jj/Free-Speech.mp3?rlkey=ua2ypv7slz4sndqspgka2sc0l&dl=0

*****

Free Speech

I speak to enable you
And, unhesitatingly,
I give it every little bit
Of my authenticity

Don’t replicate the mannerism
Currently fashionable
Which, like all other mannerism,
Is of truth lesserly full

If you naturally speak
Almost below your breath
Giving, manneristically,
Disagreement breadth

Then for you, and you alone,
It is appropriate
So meekly and obviously
Be reasonable — that’s just great!

But if I naturally speak
More enthusiasm in
No basis is that to assign a
A lesser consciousness begin

Let us not create another
False, exclusive expectation
Of restrained, repressed
And gen’rally false preroration

Look past shallow mannerism ~
We don’t all speak just like mice
That tone of voice should not required
Be, to listen to it twice

Before its meaning can descried
Be by any ears more old
Than counting on ten fingers
May the total hold,

Nor self-efface near altogether
Manneristic’lly
Whatever the message
Of the moment be

Beware you don’t create a New Age
In the same style as the old
Which can small authenticity
Nor enthusiasm hold

*****

This poet presently lives at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

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